Editorial: Information still lacking on Contract Sunshine

Mar. 15, 2011

When it comes to the state's Contract Sunshine website, any improvement is a good thing.

That's because our hopes haven't been high. But the site, which is supposed to list all state contracts valued at $10,000 or more, now has information from 40 out of 95 state agencies.

It's a sad statement that those numbers are an improvement.

A year ago, only 14 agencies were reporting to the site. It's even more disheartening when you realize the agencies are legally obligated to list their high-value contracts.

The state's Government Accountability Board maintains the website at http://sunshine. wi.gov. Officials there have been under pressure to make sure it works. The state Legislative Audit Bureau was charged with auditing the site, and that review is under way.

We're glad someone is taking a look. It shouldn't be that difficult for a department head to see a contract that's worth more than $10,000 and report it.

Taxpayers must know how state agencies spend money. Maintaining an online contract database isn't unheard of for government agencies.

To be fair, 18 agencies reported that they did not sign any contracts that warranted reporting. And the Government Accountability Board has used a certification process to brand noncompliant agencies, which should guilt them into following the law.

The board requested money for a study on how to improve the website, but that funding was not included in Gov. Scott Walker's budget. His spokesman says there could be more efficient ways to get contract information to the public.

We don't care how the details are worked out. We just think it isn't fair for taxpayers that, year after year since the bill passed in 2006, state officials get away with not following the law.

We hope someone can finally reflect a little sunshine on a corner of the government that has been dark for too long.